Snow unlikely to cool anglers' enthusiasm

Despite a record-setting winter snow pack, conditions for the
High Sierra trout opener Saturday might be perfect as thousands of
anglers head north for the season opener.

Weather reports call for moderate temperatures and clear skies,
and most of the popular lakes are ice-free and open at elevations
below 8,500 feet. Stream conditions are also good because the heavy
spring runoff has yet to arrive.

"It's amazing. I've been here 20 years, and this was the most
snow and the latest storms we have seen, but just in time for the
opener, things have pretty well thawed out up to 8,400 feet," said
Gary Olson at Bishop Creek Lodge.

Above that elevation, Sierra lakes are still locked in a deep
freeze.

Olson said conditions in Bishop Creek Canyon should be excellent
since roads will be open and waters have been well-stocked with
both Alpers and Department of Fish and Game hatchery trout.

"Stream access should be great because there is very little snow
and the flows from the snow melt have not yet picked up," Olson
said.

He predicts the hot spot in the basin will be Intake II which
has been ice-free for weeks and has been well-stocked. The adjacent
campground and easy access make this a popular lake for both shore
anglers and tube fishermen.

What a difference a few thousand feet makes.

Just up the south fork of Bishop Creek at Parcher's Resort,
sitting at 9,200 feet, there is still more than 5 feet of snow on
the ground.

Jared Smith is the new owner of Parcher's and anxious to open
his first season there and as operator of the South Lake fishing
concession.

"I'm hoping they can get the road plowed up to South Lake, but
not sure. The road should be opened as far as Parcher's, though,"
Smith said.

South Lake is often a poplar ice fishing venue on opening
weekend, and that is guaranteed this year.

"We have at least 5 feet of snow on top of 4 to 5 feet of ice at
the lake," Smith said. "Fishermen will need shovels and long ice
augers."

Rick Apted at Lake Sabrina on the main fork of Bishop Creek said
the road will be open, but there is very little water in the lake
because of construction repair work being done on the dam.

"The lake is down to the two natural pools, and they are frozen
with just a little open water at the inlets and outlets," Apted
said.

Despite the ice cover, he warns anglers to be cautious about
rotten ice and to check at the restaurant before going out.

"The fishing should be very good because there are a lot of fish
concentrated in those pools," he said.

Moving north, the epicenter of the opening weekend fishing
earthquake is always Lake Crowley, east of Mammoth Lakes.

Crowley has been free of ice for more than a month, which means
the fish will be active and feeding.

All boats have been reserved for the opener at Crowley,
according to manager Lane Garrett, and the lake will be again
offering the opening-day Big Fish Contest sponsored by Bart Hall
and the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show.

The heaviest fish will earn $500 and prizes, and there will be
prizes in other categories.

Convict Lake is also open. Two miles west of Highway 395, it
offers anglers easy access and excellent fishing. The road to Rock
Creek Lake was cleared earlier this week.

Kent Rianda, co-owner of the Trout Fly/Troutfitter in Mammoth
Lakes, said all of the lakes in the Mammoth Basin are still locked
in ice. The road will be plowed as far as Twin Lakes.

"This has been the biggest winter in 25 years and those who make
the hike into the basin will need the long augers to get through
the snow and ice," Rianda said. "We are expecting good weather, so
ice fishing could be quite good.

The four lakes in the June Lake Loop are all free of ice,
according to Jeremy Ross, manager of Ernie's Tackle in June
Lake.

"Everything is open and it should be excellent fishing," Ross
said. "June and Grant lakes have been open for several weeks, and
Gull and Silver are now clear, too."

He said the fish have been feeding, but he suggested anglers use
an attractor on bait to stimulate bites. Grant Lake is full and
Ross predicts the big fish may come from here opening weekend.

"I'd expect a big brown to come out of Grant. There is lots of
natural food and the fish are scattered, but feeding well," he
said.

The June Lake Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Monster Trout
Contest, open to any fish caught in the loop. Ross said there is no
registration or entry fee and fish can be weighed in at any of the
landings or at Ernie's Tackle.

Winners are announced in ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. at Ernie's.

Virginia Lakes is still icebound, but according to resort owner
Carolyn Webb, crews are working to open the to the lake by opening
day.

"Virginia Lakes Road is two lanes for 2 1/2 miles, and one lane
for 4 1/2 miles, not sure if they will get to the resort by Friday,
as they are dealing with a lot of snow," she said. Those who do
reach Virginia Lake will be ice fishing.

Bridgeport seems to attract the brown trout hunters, and Jim
Reid, owner of Ken's Sporting Goods said Twin Lakes are wide open
and should provide some excellent trophy brown action.

"Surface temperatures have stayed cool, so the brown's have not
gone deep," Reid said. "I would not be surprised to see several
double digit browns being caught."

He suggests brown baggers will do well fishing large Rapala
lures no deeper than 10 to 12 feet.

Anglers who head north for the opener are reminded to go
prepared for bad weather. Despite predictions of a warming trend,
storms can move in quickly, changing conditions for shirt-sleeves
to snowsuits in minutes.

Ernie Cowan is the outdoor writer for the North County Times. Ifyou have an outdoor story of interest, call (760) 518-8050, ore-mail to
ernie@packtrain.com
.